The Importance of Being. . .Normal?
SUMMARY: Lily and her two best friends, Alex and Ellen are in their fifth year at Hogwarts. What will happen when Lily begins to get to know the Marauders better? Will the Slytherins manage to beat the Griffindors in the House Cup? Will the Marauders be able to win a bet with Alex? Or will they fail miserably?
Chapter 7
Confused Cupid.
"Jaaaaammmes," Sirius called tauntingly to his friend as they got ready for quidditch training before dinner the next day "what're you going to do about Elle's little bet?"
James groaned, he'd almost forgotten about it for more than. . .5 seconds, and now he'd be thinking about it all through training.
"I don't know," he replied grabbing his broom "try and win Lily over faster? I mean it doesn't have to turn out badly. What are you going to do? At least I know who I like."
"I know who I like," Sirius replied cheekily "you just don't. I'll get her."
"Hmm." Clearly James was not impressed "Just make sure you do alright."
"Of course I will, come on-training time."
The pair dashed down the stair case, meeting up with the girls and Remus and Peter.
* * * * * * *
"Come on everyone, we've got to win the House Cup this year. Those stinking Slytherins stole it from us last time-we're not going to let it happen again," James said to the team before they got on their brooms.
"It's ok James," Alex said, jiggling from one foot to the other, clearly impatient to start training "we'll bet them with our hands tied behind our backs."
"Yeah James," Ellen put in "look who you've got on your team-us. What more could you want?"
Lily broke away from her gaze out at the trees' swaying in the light breeze "Why don't we just start already, it's going to be dark soon."
"I say we listen to Lily," Alex said, getting on her broom
"Far enough," James said grudgingly, not impressed to be stopped from his speech "Chasers, you do your regular drills. Sirius, Elle I'm letting out the Bludgers-make sure they don't hit anyone. We don't need any injuries before the season even starts."
The rest of team got on their brooms and were soon training at top speed, after all they only had a few hours before nightfall.
"Alex! Remember to pass the Quaffle to Lily and Remus!" James hollered
"But they weren't there for the play," Alex protested "I can't throw it to some one who's not there."
"Whatever." James replied diffidently "Sirius! Watch where you're hitting those Bludgers-it almost took Lily's head off!"
"I didn't do it I swear I didn't."
"Be more careful!"
"Why don't you come up here and give it a go then." Sirius challenged, flying low beside his friend.
"No way-I have to make sure you guys are doing the drills properly. I've trained enough over the holidays as it is. So shoo-go, we're going to have to pack up in a couple of minutes."
Meanwhile, Alex was hanging in mid air, letting Remus and Lily have a go at taking a shot at Peter. Unseen to her, and everyone else, a Bludger came straight at her head. Not thinking at all she ducked and swung a fist at it. Excruciating pain severed up her arm, and she almost fell off her broom. On a closer look, it seemed like the Bludger had hit her in the wrist. Alex tried to close her hand into a fist. Tears came to her eyes-too painful. It wasn't broken, she was sure of that. After all she had had three broken wrists before. 'Just sprained really hard,' she thought hopefully to herself 'I'll be fine.'
"Alright team, come down-it's too dark to see properly." James called out at the lengthening shadows were beginning to creep into darkness.
Carefully, Alex steered her broom down, landing on the other side of the pitch, hopeful that no one would see her one handed landing.
Lily looked over at her friend "It's going to take her for ages to get over here, are we just going to go to dinner, or should we wait." She wiped sweat off her forehead. Living in the Muggle world without a chance to train sure wasn't a good thing when everyone else could practise.
"You guys go," Sirius offered "I'll wait for Flannie."
The others nodded and departed, considerably more tired than they were before.
Sirius watched Alex's progress across the pitch carefully, taking in how she strode quite unlike the other girls, but more like a guy. Even from the distance he could see her emotionless face strained, as if holding in something. He raised an eyebrow and laughed to himself. She'd never give up. Not while she was still alive.
"Anything wrong there Alex?" Sirius asked, trying not to sound as concerned as he was.
"No. What makes you think there is." Alex replied shortly.
"Well, for starters, you're holding your arm all strange. Did you get hurt or something?"
"It's nothing. Just a bump. It'll be ok."
Sirius looked closely at her face, and he saw her eyes glassy with held back tears.
"No it's not alright, you don't almost cry when it's just a bump normally."
"Its. Fine. I'm great, never better," Alex smiled falsely
Sirius grabbed her arm and she yelped in pain "See, I told you it wasn't fine, we're going to the hospital wing."
"No we're not. I'm not going there for a sprained wrist. I'm not weak," Alex looked straight into his face, trying not to think of how weak she felt at that moment. Nothing to do with her wrist of course, which was still being held gently by Sirius.
"I think I know that," Sirius laughed lightly but quickly sobered seeing the intense light in her eyes, totally determined to prove she was strong "you're the most non-weak person I know."
Alex raised an eyebrow sarcastically "Oh great. Can we just go to dinner?"
"But"-
"I'm not going there."
"You know what. Sometimes I'd almost think you were too strong for your own good." Sirius said, releasing her arm
"I'm not that hurt you know," Alex said seriously "it really is just a hard sprain."
"Yeah I know," Sirius looked deep into her eyes and saw she was being truthful "but I think you're more hurt than you think."
"What do you mean-I just said I was fine," Alex said uncomfortably shifting her weight from foot to foot. She tried doggedly to return Sirius' stare, as he looked deep into her hazel eyes.
"Alright," Sirius said, sounding half awake "we'll just go to dinner."
* * * * * * * * *
Ellen laughed to herself quietly as she watched her friends at dinner. Everything was working out as she'd planned. James was being absolutely charming to Lily, and for all appearances it seemed like she was beginning to be won over. She frowned as she watched Alex and Sirius though. As normal they were having an eating contest, and Remus was watching on with a pretty Ravenclaw girl at his side. This part wasn't meant to work out like this. Or perhaps she'd misjudged something for once.
"So, Sirius," a sultry voice came from behind, Ellen spun in her seat to see who it was. Chrissie's younger sister Yasmine. Ellen groaned, surely he hadn't decided Yasmine was his dream girl. Yes she was one of the prettiest girls in Griffindor, but surely Sirius had more sense than to pick a girl who didn't have enough sense to tie her shoelaces. If she had shoelaces that was; her shoes had clasps. "Ready to go?"
Alex almost choked on a piece of meat, and sent a questioning look at Ellen before turning to glare with all she had at the short blonde girl.
"Sure Yasmine," Sirius said, getting up from the table "I'll see you guys later. Bye Flannie."
The pair departed, with a table full of aghast Griffindor faces watching them leave.
"What the?" Alex demanded
"God even I didn't see that coming," James exclaimed
"I wish you had," Lily said
"Why?"
"So you could whack him over the head and tell him not to be so incredibly STUPID?!" Lily burst out.
"Yeah, I would've hit him too, still will actually," Alex said considering "Yasmine is a flaming whore like her sister!"
Ellen was still in shock and said nothing. She had absolutely no words for this.
Remus nodded his head, agreeing with Alex "She hit on me in Herbology the other day."
"She hits on everyone," Ellen put in, finding her voice again "and anything."
"So what are we going to do about Sirius and HER?" Lily asked
"Well after I whack him over the head with my broom a couple of times, you can do whatever you want Lily," Alex said fuming "that little prat. I should've let that Chrissie girl go free range at him the other night."
"Erm, I don't think hitting him is going to help," James supposed "maybe I can talk some sense into him."
"You better be able to." Ellen gave him a pointed look.
* * * * * * * * *
"Damn damn damn!" Lily exclaimed, pulling her curtains open at about midnight. She'd forgot to do her History of Magic homework, thinking that it was already done. "Argh! Have I ever mentioned that homework drives me mad?" she said to herself, everyone else was asleep.
She quickly rustled around, looking for a blank piece of parchment to write the essay on. Armed with her writing tools and a heavy textbook, she made her way downstairs quietly. The Marauders were sitting around the fireplace talking. Unseen by any of them, Lily carefully crept down and hid behind a chair, inclined to listen in to their conversation.
"You any closer to getting Lily?" Sirius was saying
"I think so," James took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt "I mean she trusts me."
"I don't know if it's going to work out with Anna," Remus said thoughtfully, rubbing a hand through his sandy hair "it's so stupid. I thought I was over Ellen. It's so obvious that she doesn't like me, but Anna just can't replace her."
"Give it time Remus," James said putting his glasses back on "you've liked Elle for ever, it's not going to go away that fast."
"And what's this about you and Yasmine, Sirius?" Peter wanted to know "Why didn't you ask Alex out."
"I never said I was going to ask Alex out," Sirius said defending himself "I just said she'd be my first pick. And Yasmine's really pretty don't you think?"
"Yeah but it doesn't mean she's got a brain to go with it," James said, "Alex is just as pretty."
"Way more pretty," Remus pointed out "and she's got a brain."
"Then why don't YOU go out with her Moony? I can't help it if I can't bring myself to ask her out. She's not like the other girls, she doesn't just cave." Sirius said shortly, getting up to go back to their dorm. "I'm going to bed."
James waited until Sirius was out of hearing range before speaking again "Well she's sure got him in a net hey,"
"Yeah whoever would have thought Alex could make someone go so mad over her that they went out with someone else because they were too weak to ask her out," Lily said out loud, startling them all and herself
"Lily?" James said hoarsely "god what are you doing down here?"
Lily stood up, giving up her hiding place and moving to sit down on a couch "I came to do my homework, but listening to you guys is way more interesting."
"Just how much did you hear?" Remus said cautiously
"Enough. Don't worry, I'm not going to dash upstairs, wake up Elle and tell her." Lily brushed off his concerns.
~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~
A/N: Chapter 7 up and finished! Well that has to be the hardest chapter I've written so far. . .coming straight off one of the worst chapters I've ever written it was a bit daunting to make sure this one was better. (Which I hope it is. . .)
Read and Review! * chants * Read and Review!
I'm going to try to get back into the swing of writing decent chapters. . .argh. That last one just plain freaked me out. . .
Oh yes, a HUGE thanks to all the reviewers that brought this fic to break the 50 barrier! *Applauds * you guys are great.
Read and Review *wink *
From Katherine.
SUMMARY: Lily and her two best friends, Alex and Ellen are in their fifth year at Hogwarts. What will happen when Lily begins to get to know the Marauders better? Will the Slytherins manage to beat the Griffindors in the House Cup? Will the Marauders be able to win a bet with Alex? Or will they fail miserably?
Chapter 7
Confused Cupid.
"Jaaaaammmes," Sirius called tauntingly to his friend as they got ready for quidditch training before dinner the next day "what're you going to do about Elle's little bet?"
James groaned, he'd almost forgotten about it for more than. . .5 seconds, and now he'd be thinking about it all through training.
"I don't know," he replied grabbing his broom "try and win Lily over faster? I mean it doesn't have to turn out badly. What are you going to do? At least I know who I like."
"I know who I like," Sirius replied cheekily "you just don't. I'll get her."
"Hmm." Clearly James was not impressed "Just make sure you do alright."
"Of course I will, come on-training time."
The pair dashed down the stair case, meeting up with the girls and Remus and Peter.
* * * * * * *
"Come on everyone, we've got to win the House Cup this year. Those stinking Slytherins stole it from us last time-we're not going to let it happen again," James said to the team before they got on their brooms.
"It's ok James," Alex said, jiggling from one foot to the other, clearly impatient to start training "we'll bet them with our hands tied behind our backs."
"Yeah James," Ellen put in "look who you've got on your team-us. What more could you want?"
Lily broke away from her gaze out at the trees' swaying in the light breeze "Why don't we just start already, it's going to be dark soon."
"I say we listen to Lily," Alex said, getting on her broom
"Far enough," James said grudgingly, not impressed to be stopped from his speech "Chasers, you do your regular drills. Sirius, Elle I'm letting out the Bludgers-make sure they don't hit anyone. We don't need any injuries before the season even starts."
The rest of team got on their brooms and were soon training at top speed, after all they only had a few hours before nightfall.
"Alex! Remember to pass the Quaffle to Lily and Remus!" James hollered
"But they weren't there for the play," Alex protested "I can't throw it to some one who's not there."
"Whatever." James replied diffidently "Sirius! Watch where you're hitting those Bludgers-it almost took Lily's head off!"
"I didn't do it I swear I didn't."
"Be more careful!"
"Why don't you come up here and give it a go then." Sirius challenged, flying low beside his friend.
"No way-I have to make sure you guys are doing the drills properly. I've trained enough over the holidays as it is. So shoo-go, we're going to have to pack up in a couple of minutes."
Meanwhile, Alex was hanging in mid air, letting Remus and Lily have a go at taking a shot at Peter. Unseen to her, and everyone else, a Bludger came straight at her head. Not thinking at all she ducked and swung a fist at it. Excruciating pain severed up her arm, and she almost fell off her broom. On a closer look, it seemed like the Bludger had hit her in the wrist. Alex tried to close her hand into a fist. Tears came to her eyes-too painful. It wasn't broken, she was sure of that. After all she had had three broken wrists before. 'Just sprained really hard,' she thought hopefully to herself 'I'll be fine.'
"Alright team, come down-it's too dark to see properly." James called out at the lengthening shadows were beginning to creep into darkness.
Carefully, Alex steered her broom down, landing on the other side of the pitch, hopeful that no one would see her one handed landing.
Lily looked over at her friend "It's going to take her for ages to get over here, are we just going to go to dinner, or should we wait." She wiped sweat off her forehead. Living in the Muggle world without a chance to train sure wasn't a good thing when everyone else could practise.
"You guys go," Sirius offered "I'll wait for Flannie."
The others nodded and departed, considerably more tired than they were before.
Sirius watched Alex's progress across the pitch carefully, taking in how she strode quite unlike the other girls, but more like a guy. Even from the distance he could see her emotionless face strained, as if holding in something. He raised an eyebrow and laughed to himself. She'd never give up. Not while she was still alive.
"Anything wrong there Alex?" Sirius asked, trying not to sound as concerned as he was.
"No. What makes you think there is." Alex replied shortly.
"Well, for starters, you're holding your arm all strange. Did you get hurt or something?"
"It's nothing. Just a bump. It'll be ok."
Sirius looked closely at her face, and he saw her eyes glassy with held back tears.
"No it's not alright, you don't almost cry when it's just a bump normally."
"Its. Fine. I'm great, never better," Alex smiled falsely
Sirius grabbed her arm and she yelped in pain "See, I told you it wasn't fine, we're going to the hospital wing."
"No we're not. I'm not going there for a sprained wrist. I'm not weak," Alex looked straight into his face, trying not to think of how weak she felt at that moment. Nothing to do with her wrist of course, which was still being held gently by Sirius.
"I think I know that," Sirius laughed lightly but quickly sobered seeing the intense light in her eyes, totally determined to prove she was strong "you're the most non-weak person I know."
Alex raised an eyebrow sarcastically "Oh great. Can we just go to dinner?"
"But"-
"I'm not going there."
"You know what. Sometimes I'd almost think you were too strong for your own good." Sirius said, releasing her arm
"I'm not that hurt you know," Alex said seriously "it really is just a hard sprain."
"Yeah I know," Sirius looked deep into her eyes and saw she was being truthful "but I think you're more hurt than you think."
"What do you mean-I just said I was fine," Alex said uncomfortably shifting her weight from foot to foot. She tried doggedly to return Sirius' stare, as he looked deep into her hazel eyes.
"Alright," Sirius said, sounding half awake "we'll just go to dinner."
* * * * * * * * *
Ellen laughed to herself quietly as she watched her friends at dinner. Everything was working out as she'd planned. James was being absolutely charming to Lily, and for all appearances it seemed like she was beginning to be won over. She frowned as she watched Alex and Sirius though. As normal they were having an eating contest, and Remus was watching on with a pretty Ravenclaw girl at his side. This part wasn't meant to work out like this. Or perhaps she'd misjudged something for once.
"So, Sirius," a sultry voice came from behind, Ellen spun in her seat to see who it was. Chrissie's younger sister Yasmine. Ellen groaned, surely he hadn't decided Yasmine was his dream girl. Yes she was one of the prettiest girls in Griffindor, but surely Sirius had more sense than to pick a girl who didn't have enough sense to tie her shoelaces. If she had shoelaces that was; her shoes had clasps. "Ready to go?"
Alex almost choked on a piece of meat, and sent a questioning look at Ellen before turning to glare with all she had at the short blonde girl.
"Sure Yasmine," Sirius said, getting up from the table "I'll see you guys later. Bye Flannie."
The pair departed, with a table full of aghast Griffindor faces watching them leave.
"What the?" Alex demanded
"God even I didn't see that coming," James exclaimed
"I wish you had," Lily said
"Why?"
"So you could whack him over the head and tell him not to be so incredibly STUPID?!" Lily burst out.
"Yeah, I would've hit him too, still will actually," Alex said considering "Yasmine is a flaming whore like her sister!"
Ellen was still in shock and said nothing. She had absolutely no words for this.
Remus nodded his head, agreeing with Alex "She hit on me in Herbology the other day."
"She hits on everyone," Ellen put in, finding her voice again "and anything."
"So what are we going to do about Sirius and HER?" Lily asked
"Well after I whack him over the head with my broom a couple of times, you can do whatever you want Lily," Alex said fuming "that little prat. I should've let that Chrissie girl go free range at him the other night."
"Erm, I don't think hitting him is going to help," James supposed "maybe I can talk some sense into him."
"You better be able to." Ellen gave him a pointed look.
* * * * * * * * *
"Damn damn damn!" Lily exclaimed, pulling her curtains open at about midnight. She'd forgot to do her History of Magic homework, thinking that it was already done. "Argh! Have I ever mentioned that homework drives me mad?" she said to herself, everyone else was asleep.
She quickly rustled around, looking for a blank piece of parchment to write the essay on. Armed with her writing tools and a heavy textbook, she made her way downstairs quietly. The Marauders were sitting around the fireplace talking. Unseen by any of them, Lily carefully crept down and hid behind a chair, inclined to listen in to their conversation.
"You any closer to getting Lily?" Sirius was saying
"I think so," James took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt "I mean she trusts me."
"I don't know if it's going to work out with Anna," Remus said thoughtfully, rubbing a hand through his sandy hair "it's so stupid. I thought I was over Ellen. It's so obvious that she doesn't like me, but Anna just can't replace her."
"Give it time Remus," James said putting his glasses back on "you've liked Elle for ever, it's not going to go away that fast."
"And what's this about you and Yasmine, Sirius?" Peter wanted to know "Why didn't you ask Alex out."
"I never said I was going to ask Alex out," Sirius said defending himself "I just said she'd be my first pick. And Yasmine's really pretty don't you think?"
"Yeah but it doesn't mean she's got a brain to go with it," James said, "Alex is just as pretty."
"Way more pretty," Remus pointed out "and she's got a brain."
"Then why don't YOU go out with her Moony? I can't help it if I can't bring myself to ask her out. She's not like the other girls, she doesn't just cave." Sirius said shortly, getting up to go back to their dorm. "I'm going to bed."
James waited until Sirius was out of hearing range before speaking again "Well she's sure got him in a net hey,"
"Yeah whoever would have thought Alex could make someone go so mad over her that they went out with someone else because they were too weak to ask her out," Lily said out loud, startling them all and herself
"Lily?" James said hoarsely "god what are you doing down here?"
Lily stood up, giving up her hiding place and moving to sit down on a couch "I came to do my homework, but listening to you guys is way more interesting."
"Just how much did you hear?" Remus said cautiously
"Enough. Don't worry, I'm not going to dash upstairs, wake up Elle and tell her." Lily brushed off his concerns.
~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~
A/N: Chapter 7 up and finished! Well that has to be the hardest chapter I've written so far. . .coming straight off one of the worst chapters I've ever written it was a bit daunting to make sure this one was better. (Which I hope it is. . .)
Read and Review! * chants * Read and Review!
I'm going to try to get back into the swing of writing decent chapters. . .argh. That last one just plain freaked me out. . .
Oh yes, a HUGE thanks to all the reviewers that brought this fic to break the 50 barrier! *Applauds * you guys are great.
Read and Review *wink *
From Katherine.